Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
03 October 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/035) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 2, 2018 that 5 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG and YJA Star militants in rural areas of Adaklı district of Bingöl on August 17, 2018.
(10/036) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
Society and Legal Research Foundation (TOHAV) co-spokesperson lawyer Rengin Ergül and Platform of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHP) member lawyer Barış Marhan, visited Düzce T Type Prison which came up with torture and ill-treatment allegations and interviewed the prisoners. Lawyer Rengin Ergül, stated in news coverage of October 2, 2018 that, the prison manager said “You shed our blood outside and we will shed your blood here. We will call you to account. You will recognize this state. You will accept everything” to the prisoners who reject to stand in military order for roll-calls, and that the prisoners were handcuffed behind their backs and dragged to the padded cells. Lawyer Rengin Ergül continued as following: “The second day, prisoners are again forced to stand during roll-calls. Prisoners reject to do so and they are again subjected to insults and dragged to corridors. They are handcuffed behind their backs, beating starts with 2 wardens per prisoner. Prisoners are forced to drop their heads and tortured while wardens say ‘You will submit to this state’. Yasin Ecen, a prisoner who reacts to be called as ‘looter’ is put in a single padded cell. And then 12 people with whom he stays, are also brought to the corridor and tortured. A warden sits on a prisoner and smokes”. Lawyers also stated that prisoners are still injured and some prisoners are suffering from haematuria.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 2, 2018 that prisoners in Elazığ Women’s prison were forced to shoe search before the visits, and they went to visits barefoot to protest this.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 2, 2018 that Şehriban Tunç and Hasan Tunç, married prisoners in Tarsus Prison, are transferred to Kayseri Prison under coercion. It is stated in the news reports that the couple were transferred to Tarsus Prison a while ago from Adıyaman, where their child lives.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 2, 2018 that Mehdi Boz, an ill prisoner kept in Elazığ T Type Prison, was not given clothes and underwear sent by his family. It is also stated in the news reports that Mehdi Boz was put in a solitary cell.
(10/037) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling for a while to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on October 2, 2018 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on October 2, 2018, 2 people (Mahmut Konuk and Mehmet Dersulu) and at 18.00 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 5 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on October 2, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(10/038) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on October 2, 2018 and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak and 3 people (Nursel Tanrıverdi, Selvi Polat and Engin Karataş) supporting her. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(10/039) People Detained in Malatya for Social Media Posts…
On October 2, 2018, 6 people are detained in house raids in Malatya, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media’. It is learned that 2 people are released after statement procedures at the police.
(10/040) DBP Co-Chair on Trial…
The case against Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Sabahat Tuncel and former HDP co-chair Aysel Tuğluk, on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 6, for attending the event organized for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s birthday, on April 4, 2013 in Amara village of Urfa’s Halfeti district, is held on October 2, 2018. The indictment demands Sebahat Tuncel and Aysel Tuğluk to be sentenced for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and ‘opposing to the law on demonstrations and meetings’. Sabahat Tuncel and Aysel Tuğluk did not attend the trial, and the court adjourned the hearing to November 29, 2018.
(10/041) Former Deputy Mayor on Trial in Urfa…
The case against Hülya Demir, former deputy mayor of Suruç district of Urfa, on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 6 is held on October 2, 2018. The court sentenced Hülya Demir to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(10/042) HDP MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against HDP Siirt MP Meral Danış Beştaş, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 8, on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation member’, ‘provoking people for illegal demonstrations and meetings’ is held on October 2, 2018. The lawyers demanded the proceedings to end, and the court decided to consider the demand at the next trial.
(10/043) EMEP Executive on Trial in Kocaeli…
The final trial of the case against Arzu Erkan, Kocaeli provincial chair of Labour Party (EMEP), on Kocaeli Penal Court of First Instance No 1, for her social media posts on Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, is held on October 2, 2018. The court acquitted Arzu Erkan.
(10/044) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The case against 5 academicians (Research Assistant Ozan Çağlayan from Galatasaray University, Professor Beyza Üstün retired from Yıldız Technical University, Lecturer Senem Timuroğlu from Özyeğin University, Assoc. Professor Suncem Koçer and Lecturer Z. D. from Kadir Has University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 34 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on October 2, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned all 5 trials to March 12, 2019.
The case against 3 academicians (Assist. Professor Kerem Eksen and Lecturer Emin Alper from Istanbul Technical University, and Assist. Professor Canay Şahin from Yıldız Technical University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 is held on October 2, 2018. The court adjourned the trials of Emin Alper and Kerem Eksen to January 17, 2019 and the trial of Canay Şahin to February 5, 2019.
The case against Nevim Borçin, a PhD student at Boğaziçi University, for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 is held on October 2, 2018. The court decided to expect the writ from the Ministry of Justice in order to proceed according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code and adjourned the trial to March 14, 2019.
The case against Professor Güler Okman Fişek from Boğaziçi University, for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28 is held on October 2, 2018. Güler Okman Fişek and her lawyer Meriç Eyüboğlu did not attend the trial thus date of the next trial is unknown.
The case against Lecturer M. Y. Ş. from Bilgi University, for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29 is held on October 2, 2018. The court decided to expect the writ from the Ministry of Justice in order to proceed according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code and adjourned the trial to January 15, 2019.
The case against Professor Neşe Yıldıran from Işık University, for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35 is held on October 2, 2018. The court adjourned the trial to November 15, 2018.
(10/045) Poet and Writer Fadıl Öztürk on Trial…
The final trial of the case against poet and writer Fadıl Öztürk, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation in social media posts’ is held on October 2, 2018 on İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 2. The court sentenced Fadıl Öztürk to 1 year and 10 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and postponed the sentence.
(10/046) Ankara JİTEM Case…
The case known as “Ankara JİTEM case” continued to be held on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 1 on October 2, 2018.
The indictment demands jail sentence for defendants Mehmet Ağar, İbrahim Şahin, Korkut Eken, Ayhan Çarkın, Ayhan Akça, Ziya Bandırmalıoğlu, Ercan Ersoy, Ahmet Demirel, Ayhan Özkan, Seyfettin Lap, Enver Ulu, Uğur Şahin, Alper Tekdemir, Yusuf Yüksel, Abbas Semih Sueri, Lokman Külünk, Mahmut Yıldırım, Nurettin Güven, Muhsin Korman, on the charge of “committing murder as a part of activities of an armed organisation with the purpose of committing offences” for unidentified murders committed in an around Ankara between 1993 and 1996.
It is learned that the court decided to have a closed trial for it will hear an anonymous witness, and thus took journalists and the audience out of the courtroom. The court adjourned the trial to January 31, 2019.
(10/047) Police Officers on Trial for Injury of a Person by Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicle in Bursa…
Nergis Ş. got injured due to pressurized water used by an anti-riot cannon during the police intervention against a rally for Berkin Elvan in 2014. The final trial of the case against Vahit Fatih K., the driver and Süleyman A., the operator of the cannon is held on October 2, 2018 on Bursa Penal Court of First Instance No 16. The court sentenced Süleyman A. to 1 year 10 months and 15 days for ‘injuring’ and postponed the sentence. The court acquitted Vahit Fatih K.
(10/048) The Case of Armed Assault to Journalist Can Dündar…
The final trial of the case against three defendants, Murat Şahin, who launched an armed attack on journalist Can Dündar in front of İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan on May 6, 2016 and injured the NTV reporter Yağız Şenkal; Habip Ergün Celep (for alleged instigation of Şahin) and Sabri Boyacı (for alleged possession of the firearm) is held on October 2, 2018 on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 28. The court acquitted Habip Ergün Celep and Sabri Boyacı. The court is sentenced to 4.500 Turkish Liras for ‘intentional injury’ and to 10 months and 500 Turkish Liras for ‘possession of unregistered firearm’.
(10/049) Newspaper Distributor on Trial in Antep…
The case against Barış Polat, distributor of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held on October 2, 2018 on Antep Heavy Penal Court No 7. After defence hearings the court released Barış Polat with a travel ban and adjourned the trial to April 20, 2019.
(10/050) Newspaper Distributor on Trial in Elazığ…
The case against Necmettin Tosun, a newspaper distributor, is held on October 2, 2018 on Elazığ Heavy Penal Court No 2. Necmettin Tosun was not brought to the courtroom despite of his demand and joined the trial via sound and vision system. The court released Necmettin Tosun.
(10/051) Person on Trial for ‘Insulting the President’…
The appeal made to Istanbul Regional Court for the sentence of 8 years and 2 months given to Ali Ergin Güran on the grounds of ‘insulting the President and the chief of defence’ is held on October 2, 2018. The regional court sentenced Ali Ergin Güran to 7 years.
(10/052) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On October 2, 2018, 2 judges and 2 lawyers are detained through a Tokat based investigation; 7 public employees are detained in operations covering 5 cities through a Bitlis based investigation.
It is learned that a warrant is issued for 37 people including public employees and military members through an Ankara based investigation and that operations are initiated in 22 cities.
(10/053) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The appeal made to Penal Department No 2 of Istanbul Regional Court, for the heavy life imprisonment given by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 to 6 journalists including Mehmet Altan, Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak, is held on October 2, 2018. The court approved the heavy life imprisonment and decided to continue detention for 6 people.
(10/054) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Bedrettin Çiçek, is held on October 2, 2018 on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5. The court sentenced Bedrettin Çiçek to 10 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(10/055) Appropriated Companies by TMSF…
Muhiddin Günal, chair of Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) stated in his declarations covered by news reports on October 2, 2018 that 1022 companies were appointed trustees as a part of “Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation/Parallel State Structure” investigations after June 15, 2018. It is reported that the equity capital of these companies is 19,9 billion Turkish Liras and the number of employees of these companies is 46.190 people.
[1] The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
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[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.